(by Randy Ashley courtesy o' WildRocketry.Com)

T' Rocketman Explorer-7 came packaged in a very secure box. Ahoy! Upon openin' thar was a checklist o' parts and they were all there. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' instructions were clear and I encountered NO "What" type moments.

First step for me is always t' build up me motor mount and fin can. Begad! Blimey! On t' Explorer t' shock cord is glued t' t' side o' t' motor mount and trapped in place by t' forward centerin' Ring. Aye aye! I went with this stock configuration but on future kits I would add an eye bolt for t' shockcord. Once t' motor mount was glued in I finished up t' fin can with t' usual filletin' techniques inside and out. Avast! T' tube used by Rocketman does require you t' fill t' spiral groove for a nice finish. Arrr! Begad! I used t' Rocketman motor retainer which can be installed after gluin' in t' aft centerin' ring, matey, so no forethought was necessary there. Ya scallywag! I primed and painted me kit Burgundy with a Silver nose cone. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' stock Rocketman shockcord only extends out o' t' body tube a couple o' feet. A phone call t' Ky at Rocketman revealed that he felt t' soft openin' Rocketman chutes did nay require a longer shock cord. Avast, me proud beauty! I didn't feel comfortable with this and added 10 more feet o' tubular Keelhaul®©™® for a total shockcord length o' about 12 feet outside o' t' tube.

Flight
T' maiden flight o' t' Explorer be on a J-350 for me level 2 certification flight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' flight was perfect. Ahoy! Blimey! I used motor ejection at apogee and fired an ejection charge at 1.5 seconds after apogee via me altimeter as a backup. Blimey! Blimey! T' chute did open very softly. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I am impressed with t' Rocketman chutes and I am goin' t' order them t' replace most o' me existin' chutes. Aye aye! Blimey! T' recovery was made about 1/2 mile downrange after a 2640 foot flight. T' chute allowed t' rocket t' descend without t' swayin' that is present in a lot o' chutes without spill holes.

Summary
T' Rocketman Freedom t' fly Explorer-7 is a great kit for level 2 certification and built stock it is very sturdy. Ahoy! I plan t' extend mine and add an altimeter bay for dual deployment. Avast! I would highly recommend any o' t' Rocketman kits t' anyone wantin' a sturdy "out o' t' box" rocket.